THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510270087
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL Church kicks off its fourth annual Flower Festival on Friday night with more than 3,000 stems of fragrant white flowers decorating the church's interior.
The church will look as if it were ready for a traditional Anglican wedding, with white the predominant color. Flowers were selected for fragrance as well as color and will include Casa Blanca lilies, carnations, orchids, calla lilies, chrysanthemums, gladiolus, anthuriums, stock and roses, plus loads of greenery.
``We want this event not only to be visually appealing but very fragrant,'' said Stephen Batten, artistic coordinator for the festival. ``With the conditioning techniques we use today, flowers should stay fresh throughout the five days of the event.''
To enhance the flowers, 500 candles and 26 wrought-iron candelabra will be lighted each evening.
Flowers will greet visitors in the narthex, and the central altar and baptismal font in the front of the church will be surrounded with flowers. A 6-foot high arrangement is planned for the chancel.
The theme for this year's festival is ``I Come with Joy to Greet My Lord.'' The festival continues through next Tuesday, with a bazaar Saturday and organ or choral concerts each day. The Festival Bazaar will sell dried flower arrangements, herbs, herb products, garden items, jewelry, baked goods and other gifts.
St. Andrew's, located at 1004 Graydon Ave. in the West Ghent section of Norfolk, has celebrated All Saints Day in the past with a flower festival using dried flowers. For the first time, all fresh flowers will be used this year.
The church has 12 beams supporting its roof and each will be decorated with symbols of the 12 disciples. The symbol of Peter will be two keys crossed in the form of the letter ``X.'' Peter's brother, Andrew, will be symbolized by a cross in the letter ``X,'' representing crucifixion.
Flower festivals began in the early 1950s, when the British began holding them as a way to raise money for restoring English churches damaged in World War II. At this year's Maymont Flower Show in Richmond, the Monumental Church, decorated for a flower festival, was the hit of that event.
St. Andrew's has established a church flower guild, organized and trained by Batten and Lee Snyder, to use fresh flowers and greenery to decorate the church for weddings and other special occasions.
The church will be open for viewing throughout the weekend, and self-guided tours will allow visitors to experience the tradition, history and beauty of the church. Profits from the festival will support the church's ministry. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
St. Andrew's flower guild decorates the church for numerous
weddings, such as this one, and will go all out to re-create a
traditional Anglican wedding for the Flower Festival.
Graphic
ST. ANDREW'S FLOWER FESTIVAL
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
by CNB